Wed Jan 11 9:16am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Kittle can keep it going this week
More and more fantasy owners are playing in playoff leagues, and for good reason. They are a lot of fun contests and leagues out there these days. We run several on our site. Your fantasy leagues don’t have to come to an end because the regular season is over. I highly suggest getting involved in a league if you can. It is a great way to get your fantasy fix a little longer. Plus, there are a lot of interesting formats for leagues, giving you a different fantasy dynamic than during the regular season. So we’ll continue with this column throughout the playoffs, getting you ready for your games each week.
With that said, here are my random thoughts for the week. . . . .
I’m really excited to watch the Jaguars this weekend. They are a team on the rise with a lot of top young talent. It will be interesting to see how they play on the big stage. Trevor Lawrence was a little shaky last week, so I’m wondering how he handles things this weekend. These playoff games can vault a players confidence in a hurry. I’m hoping Lawrence comes up big and balls out, keeping his progress going forward.
It really seems like the knee injury Lamar Jacksons suffered is pretty serious and he is in real doubt to play this week. You also have to wonder if the contract situation is playing into this at all for Jackson. Maybe he doesn’t want to risk anything without a long-term deal signed. Who knows? Either way, the Ravens have next to no chance to win that game this weekend if Jackson can’t play.
Here is to hoping the Bears use that first round pick this year to get the help that Justin Fields needs. Their offensive line needs upgrades and the passing game needs a lot of help at receiver. Hopefully, they can turn that top pick into a lot more picks to get Fields help. This is a big offseason for the Bears. I will be anxious to see how they handle it all.
I really do wonder how much of a negative impact Nathaniel Hackett had on Russell Wilson. He sure looked like a different quarterback after Hackett was fired late in the year. Maybe we shouldn’t give up on him just yet. The Broncos do have a lot of weapons in the passing game, so Wilson has a high ceiling if he can get his game back. Wilson surely will be a polarizing fantasy figure next season. I might be in on him for the right price, though.
I’m having a hard time deciding on the representatives for the Super Bowl this year. The AFC is really tough with the Bills, Chiefs and Bengals as legit contenders to go all the way. And I even think the Chargers are talented enough to make a run. So I really think four teams could go the Super Bowl out of the AFC. The NFC isn’t quite as tough in my view, mainly because the Vikings and Cowboys are limping into the playoffs. That leaves the Eagles and 49ers as the obvious choices. And it is hard to bet against the 49ers right now with that team playing so well. The big concern for me is Brock Purdy. Can he make the big play if called upon? So I say this with little conviction, I will go with the Bills and Eagles as the winner of their conferences. We’ll see how that works out!
News and Notes: Reports are the Cardinals plan to trade receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. He is getting older and has battled injury the last few seasons, but could be a big help to a receiver needy team. . . . .The Ravens signed linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, 100 million dollar extensions on Tuesday. Smith is now a mainstay in the Ravens defense for years to come.
HOT PLAYS
George Kittle, TE, 49ers. It took a little time but Kittle is red hot right now. He has touchdowns four straight games and multiple scores three of those games. And one of those games came against the Seahawks, who he plays this week. Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and two scores against the Seahawks in Week 15. Seattle has struggled against the tight end all year. The Seahawks allow the second most fantasy points to tight ends. Kittle is setup for a big game in this one.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars. Etienne struggled his last game, rushing seven time for just 17 yards. but that was against a good Titans rush defense. He had at least 13 fantasy points three straight before last week. And Etienne had 100-yard rushing games two his last three before Week 18. He can get it going again this week against the Chargers. The Chargers allow the seventh most fantasy points to running backs and rank 28th overall against the rush.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin topped 100 receptions for the first time in his career this season. And this was a year he was coming off a torn ACL and missed a couple games because of injury. He is clearly healthy and the top target in this passing game. He has at least five receptions 14 straight games. Look for him to keep it going in the Bucs playoff opener. The Cowboys have had issues stopping the pass, so look for Godwin to get a workout. Dallas allows the fifth most fantasy points to receivers.
COLD PLAYS
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott is coming off arguably his worst game of the season. He was just 14-of-37 for 128 yards and a touchdown against the Commander last week. It was an alarming performance as the Cowboys head into the playoffs. And he plays a Bucs team on the road that is ninth overall against the pass to open things. It might be another long day for Prescott in this matchup.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks. Walker had a great rookie season, emerging as the lead back and producing big in that role. He had three straight 100-yard games to end his season. But the game before that streak was against the 49ers, a game he ran 12 times for just 47 yards. It might be more of the same this week against a very good San Francisco defense. The 49ers are second overall against the run and allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.
Tua Tagovailoa or whoever plays QB for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa really cooled off down the stretch before his latest concussion. He had few than 20 fantasy points four of his last five games. He also plays the Bills this week, a team he scored about 33 fantasy points against in two games this year. Buffalo allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks for the season. Tagovailoa or whoever starts for the Dolphins at quarterback this week is going to be a risk for fantasy owners.
SLEEPERS
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants. Jones quietly put together a very good season. He took a big step forward this year in an offense that really lacks weapons in the passing game. Despite that, Jones was 12th overall in fantasy quarterback scoring. He had 25-plus fantasy points two straight games to end his season and topped 20 points four of his last five. He has a great matchup to produce in his playoff debut. The Vikings have struggled against the pass all season, allowing the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Minnesota is just 31st overall against the pass, allowing 265.6-passing yards per game.
James Cook, RB, Bills. Cook has enjoyed a bit of an up and down rookie season, but is playing his best football right now. He has double-digit fantasy points three of his last five games. Don’t discount him to have a big game or two in the playoffs. You could see the Bills getting up big in this one, running out the clock late in the game. This could mean more touches for Cook, who might be playing better than Devin Singletary right now. The Dolphins are solid against the run but have allowed 15-rushing touchdowns this season, which also bodes well for Cook.
Richie James, WR, Giants. James has emerged as the top receiver for the Giants. He has at least seven receptions three of four games. He has topped 17 fantasy points three of those games. He also has at least 13 fantasy points five of seven. He is getting it done on a weekly basis. And he gets a bad Vikings secondary this week. Minnesota allows the second most fantasy points to receivers. James is setup to top double-digit fantasy points once again.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chargers/Jaguars, Giants/Vikings.
Low Scoring Games: Cowboys/Bucs.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
The Green Bay Packers have elevated running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad to the gameday roster ahead of Sunday's Week 12 matchup against division rival Minnesota Vikings. This is a result of star running back Josh Jacobs (knee) being listed as questionable due to a knee injury he sustained in Week 11 against the New York Giants. Strong being moved to the gameday roster gives the Packers depth at running back, with Jacobs being a true game-time decision. Strong was also elevated earlier in the year in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals. If Jacobs is ruled out, look for Emanuel Wilson to handle the bulk of the carries while Chris Brooks is mixed in. Despite being elevated to the main roster, Strong is a lower-end option in very deep leagues at best for Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis has been perfect in two games with his new team, but without attempting a field goal yet, he's tougher to trust in fantasy football. He's now 9-for-9 on extra points through two weeks, but without any attempts from longer range, he hasn't been able to rack up significant fantasy totals. With that being said, the Rams have one of the strongest offenses in football, which means scoring opportunities aren't hard to come by. Lately, their scoring drives have been resulting in touchdowns rather than stalling in field-goal range. This is a great problem to have if you're the Rams, but fantasy managers invested in Mevis' success would like to see him attempt some field goals sooner rather than later. It's only a matter of time before that happens, but it's not guaranteed this week; the Bucs have allowed the fourth-fewest field goal attempts to opposing kickers in 2025. Although Mevis has top-12 upside in the Rams' high-scoring offense, he's a very risky option. Managers should look for safer kickers who have an equally high ceiling when setting their Week 12 lineups.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson is rising up the depth chart ahead of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 26-year-old is expected to operate as the Rams' top tight end after Tyler Higbee (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. This promotion comes at a fitting time for Parkinson, who is riding a two-game touchdown streak. During that span, he has six catches for 55 yards while ranking as the overall TE6 in PPR leagues. While Parkinson probably won't maintain his top-12 value over a larger sample size, he's still a notable riser and will warrant some streaming consideration for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. He ranks as the overall TE27 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will make his second start of the season on the road in Week 12 against the Saints, with the team losing Michael Penix Jr. (knee) to injury for the rest of the year. The 37-year-old started the team's Week 8 contest against the Dolphins, but unsurprisingly looked rusty, completing 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards and no scores (and zero interceptions). Expectations should not be high for managers considering the veteran as a streaming option, as he lost his job to Penix last year and was unable to wrest it back to begin 2025. Also, the Saints have been solid on defense, limiting opposing quarterbacks to the 17th-most fantasypoints in the league, and they get the benefit of this game being played in New Orleans. With a low implied point total for Atlanta in this one (19), there isn't expected to be a lot of scoring, and if there is, it could come from the one-two punch of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on the ground, especiallygiven that top wide receiver Drake London (knee) will be out. As such, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 in this matchup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson has an opportunity to ascend into a larger role during Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ferguson has struggled to carve out a significant snap share this season, but he could make that leap this week after Tyler Higbee (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. The rookie will likely operate as the Rams' No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson, primarily serving as a big-yardage threat downfield. He has five catches on 11 targets this season, and he's averaging a whopping 27.6 yards per reception. The 22-year-old hasn't produced these big catches consistently enough to warrant starting him in fantasy football, but he's inching closer to a fantasy-relevant role with Higbee now sidelined. In the short term, Ferguson ranks as the overall TE34 in RotoBaller's Week 12 fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (hip) has been activated off injured reserve and will play in Sunday's Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Strange had been sidelined due to a hip injury since Week 6. The Jaguars' offense has been desperately awaiting Strange's return, with Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) having been out of the lineup over the last couple of weeks and rookie Travis Hunter (knee) out for the remainder of the season. Before his injury, Strange was quarterback Trevor Lawrence's go-to target and should slide back into that role. He caught 20 passes for 204 yards over five games before the injury. Strange will face a stingy Cardinals' defense that has surrendered the eighth fewest receiving touchdowns this season. Despite the tough matchup, Strange is a viable tight end option in deeper fantasy leagues for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington has maintained a sizable snap share within his offense, but he continues to be a low-volume option. He has played at least 40% of the snaps in every game he has been healthy for this season, but he hasn't surpassed 6.2 fantasy points (PPR) in a single contest so far. In fact, over his last two full games, he has just one target, one catch, and nine receiving yards. The Texas product has also started to see more special teams opportunities, returning a pair of kicks in Week 11. Now, even in a relatively favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12, Whittington is not a reliable fantasy option. He ranks as the overall WR89 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings. As long as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are healthy, Whittington can be left on waivers.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams is coming off a bizarre contest against the Seattle Seahawks in which he caught one of eight targets for one yard and one touchdown. The stat line was quite frustrating, but he salvaged his fantasy performance with a trip to the end zone, scoring for a fourth consecutive game. Fortunately, his target share indicates that he should have no trouble bouncing back against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. Plus, quarterback Matthew Stafford is putting together an MVP season, so he's expected to re-establish his strong connection with Adams on Sunday. Furthermore, the Bucs have allowed the 15th-most fantasy points, 11th-most receptions, and eighth-most receiving yards to opposing receivers in 2025. Adams ranks as the overall WR6 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings. Managers should start him with confidence in all leagues.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier notched his seventh touchdown in 10 games last week despite totaling just 16 yards from scrimmage (three rushes for 10 yards, two catches for six yards). The touchdowns have made the 25-year-old fantasy relevant this year, but as frequent as they've become, he still owns an extremely low floor, scoring a total of five fantasy points in the four games in which he did not find the end zone. Sunday's matchup against the Saints should be competitive, and the BYU product tends to stay involved in those types of game scripts, however, with the Falcons owning an implied point total of 19 points, there may not be much scoring to be found in this game. The Saints are middle of the road in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and have been stout lately, limiting opposing rushers to just 3.5 yards per carry over the last three games. It only reinforces Allgeier's status as a very risky RB4/Flex option in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua continues to be a must-start fantasy option for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has put together another phenomenal season; he ranks as the overall WR3 in fantasy scoring this season, and he would be in the running for the top spot if he hadn't missed time due to injury earlier this year. Despite playing fewer than two-thirds of the offensive snaps in each of his last three games, Nacua has totaled 19 catches, 234 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns during that span. This week, he gets a relatively favorable matchup against the Bucs, who have allowed the 15th-most fantasy points, 11th-most receptions, and eighth-most receiving yards to opposing receivers in 2025. Nacua ranks as the overall WR2 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum continues to factor into the team's plans as they prepare for Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Corum is averaging 12.8 carries over his last four games, but his efficiency has been far from desired. Last week, he had just 1.3 yards per carry and also lost two yards on his lone reception. Despite the efficiency concerns, Los Angeles continues to trust him to handle a standalone role behind Kyren Williams. While Williams remains the primary back, Corum has played at least 28% of the snaps in each of his last four games. This week's matchup looks intriguing on paper as the Buccaneers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025. However, a large portion of those points have occurred in the passing game, and Corum doesn't have much of a receiving role. In fact, the Bucs have allowed the eighth-fewest rushing yards to running backs. As a result, Corum ranks outside the top-36 running back range for Week 12. Specifically, he's the overall RB41 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has been quite productive lately, racking up impressive efficiency and touchdown numbers. Over his last three games, he has four total touchdowns and is averaging a whopping 5.5 yards per carry. He'll have an opportunity to build on this streak during Sunday's Week 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, with a large chunk of that productivity coming in the passing game. Tampa Bay has also surrendered the most receiving yards to running backs this season. While Williams is more of a rusher than receiver, he could capitalize on a favorable opportunity to contribute in the receiving game, all while maintaining strong efficiency and scoring tendencies on the ground. He enters this week as the overall RB11 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington is looking to rebound against the Arizona Cardinals from a rough Week 11 outing against the Los Angeles Chargers. Washington was held to two catches for 20 yards on two targets. The 23-year-old had scored over 17 fantasy points in his previous two games and scored two touchdowns. Washington will see an extended role again in the Jaguars' passing attack with teammate Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) being ruled out due to an ankle injury. Heading into Week 12, Washington will face a scrappy Cardinals secondary that has allowed the eighth fewest receiving touchdowns this season. It is also worth noting Washington's talent on special teams, scoring two punt return touchdowns since Week 4 this season. Washington will be a viable flex option and is ranked 74th overall at RotoBaller heading into Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) was cleared from Friday's final injury report and will be active in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals. Etienne was a limited participant in practice this week due to a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old has been a borderline RB1 over the previous three weeks, scoring three touchdowns and getting over 16 carries a game during that stretch. Etienne is RotoBaller's 13th-ranked running back in Week 12 against a middle-of-the-pack Cardinals run defense. The Cardinals gave up 95 rushing yards and surrendered two rushing touchdowns last week to the San Francisco 49ers. Etienne will also have to split carries with rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten, who had a career high of 15 carries last week. To this point, Etienne has been able to fend off Tuten and be the RB1 in the Jaguars' backfield and will be a reliable high-end RB2 against a non-threatening Cardinals run defense.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) was listed as limited in practice every day this week, but was cleared from the injury report and will play in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals. Tuten finally had his breakout game of the season in Week 11 against the Chargers, handling 15 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win. He injured his ankle during the game, which forced him to exit early, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. The rookie fourth-rounder played a season high 42.9% of the snaps and out-carried fellow running back Travis Etienne Jr. 15 to 12 before leaving. The dynamic rookie's role should continue to expand in the coming weeks as he has looked great in his opportunities. Etienne followed a similar pattern to Tuten this week in practice as he was limited with a shoulder injury, but heads into Sunday without an injury designation. Etienne should still serve as the RB1, but Tuten has earned more work, and it could wind up being close to a 50-50 split on Sunday in Arizona. Tuten ranks as RotoBaller's RB30 in PPR formats for Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Despite being benched for the opening series after missing curfew, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens recorded nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old is having a breakout season, as he's hauled in 58 receptions for 908 yards and seven scores on 83 targets across his first 10 games of 2025. Pickens and the Cowboys have a difficult matchup in Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Through 11 weeks, the Eagles are tied with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed (nine) in the NFL. Philadelphia held Pickens to just three catches for 30 yards on four targets in his first matchup against them this season in Week 1. However, Pickens has been surging of late and has earned at least nine targets in four out of his last five games played. Despite the tough matchup, he profiles as a high-end fantasy WR2 in Week 12 against the Eagles.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland has had back-to-back games under five fantasy points for the first time this season. The 26-year-old went one for two with making an extra point attempt during Week 11's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, making a field goal within the 30 and missing his first field goal on the year from 50-plus yards out. Ryland and the Cardinals will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, and they have allowed the 10th most passing yards this season. The Cardinals should be able to move the ball through the air to get Ryland into field goal range quite consistently. Fantasy managers can insert Ryland into lineups as a viable streaming option in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Across seven games in 2025, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has recorded 40 catches for 557 yards and two touchdowns on 61 targets. Even with fellow Dallas wideout George Pickens in the midst of a breakout season, Lamb has earned double-digit targets in four out of the six games where he has played all four quarters. In Week 12, Lamb gets a difficult matchup when the Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles. For the season, the Eagles are tied with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed (nine). Philadelphia has also played some of its best defense of late, holding the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to a combined 16 points over the last two weeks. Still, in his first matchup of the season against the Eagles in Week 1, Lamb recorded seven catches for 110 yards on 13 targets and could have had an even bigger game if not for a couple of uncharacteristic drops. He remains a clear must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 12 against his division rival.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars have limited quarterback Trevor Lawrence's pass volume over the past two weeks. Lawrence attempted 23 passes in Jacksonville's Week 10 loss to the Texans, then 22 in last week's win over the Chargers. He's thrown a touchdown and an interception in both games, while making an impact on the ground, scoring his fifth rushing touchdown of the season against the Chargers. From Weeks 1 through 9, the Jaguars leaned slightly more pass-heavy, ranking ninth in pass rate over expectation (+4%). In the past two weeks, they've dropped to 23rd with a -4.2% pass rate over expectation, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. The Jaguars have started to rely more on their dynamic running back duo of Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie Bhayshul Tuten, which may limit Lawrence's fantasy upside. However, he draws a matchup in Week 12 against an Arizona Cardinals defense that just allowed 41 points to Brock Purdy and the 49ers last week. Lawrence ranks as RotoBaller's QB16 for Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Across 10 games this season, Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams has recorded 809 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 161 carries. The 25-year-old has dominated backfield touches in Dallas all year long and should continue to do so even after the Cowboys signed running back Malik Davis to the active roster on Saturday. Dallas has a difficult matchup in Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have not allowed an opposing offense to score 10 points since Week 8. Still, Philadelphia's biggest strength is against the pass, as they rank 18th in yards per carry allowed (4.3) and 21st in rushing touchdowns allowed (11) among NFL defenses. In his first matchup of the season against the Eagles in Week 1, Williams recorded 64 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 17 touches. He profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 12.
From RotoBaller